A New Zealand architecture firm has won an international competition to help design a massive university in Vietnam.
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| Analysing the plans |
Brewer Davidson will create a master plan for the $700 million university in the capital, Hanoi.
It is a boost for a local industry that is still feeling the effects of the recession.
Brewer Davidson architects have been taking their Vietnamese guests on a tour of their previous work, like the buildings at Auckland Girls' Grammar for example, but what lies ahead in Hanoi dwarfs anything they've designed so far.
"It's a bit of a tiger by the tail at times, but you keep reminding yourself in the hard times how you wouldn't say no," says Kevin Brewer.
The university in the Vietnamese capital will have 20,000 students, cover the equivalent of 340 football fields and cost $700 million.
It is being built by PetroVietnam, a state-owned oil and gas company that accounts for 20 percent of Vietnam's GDP.
"We have a very good designer, very, very good university for our country," says Vuong Tien Khoa.
They were chosen from a shortlist of firms from Korea, Japan, the US, France and England.
In collaboration with Australian architect Norman Day, they'll design a master plan for the campus.
"It's the site plan basically, some infrastructure such as storm water, power supply, the big ticket items," says Mr Brewer.
Even he says it's a sign New Zealand architects can foot in on the world stage.
"Knowing you are at that level just gives you more confidence in everything you are doing."
It's a boost for an industry still struggling after the recession.
"People like Fletchers doing Eden Park, they are probably okay, but the next level down - there is no funding still. Things are still very tough out there."
Brewer Davidson is hoping to complete the initial sketches by early next month, with the university expected to open in three years.
